Locals explain their votes

Voters explain why they voted yes or no on the referendum issue.

By: Rebecca Tokarz
   
   Although the school district’s Proposed $46 million referendum was overwhelmingly approved by voters Tuesday, those interviewed leaving the polls had mixed feelings about the plan.
   Voters who supported the plan said they wanted students in the district’s older schools to have the same facilities as newer schools like Indian Fields and Brooks Crossing.
   Opponents cited the project’s price tag, with some questioning whether the school board had underestimated the tax impact.
   Tuesday, voters approved the district’s proposed $46.42 million spending plan — $33.12 million to be raised through taxes and $13.3 million to come from the state — 1,488 to 809.
   The approved plan will raise school taxes 2.43 percent and carries a 4.8 cent increase per $100 assessed valuation in the school tax rate. Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $186,900 would pay $89.71 more a year for 25 years to cover the cost of the proposed plan.
   Of the 20,376 registered voters, 11.27 percent cast their ballots Tuesday.
   Registered voters who did not support the plan said they felt the school board was not fiscally responsible enough to handle more than $40 million to build onto the schools and felt residents were being deceived by the district about the actual costs related to the plan.
   The South Brunswick Post asked about 35 residents at different polling places throughout the township how they voted and what, if anything, influenced their vote.
   "I voted no, which may sound funny because I am a teacher in the district and have two kids in the system," Monmouth Junction teacher Chris Rossman said after casting his ballot at Brunswick Acres. "I don’t feel this board can be trusted with that kind of money."
   Mr. Rossman said his decision to vote against the referendum had little to do with any harsh feelings he had against members of the school board for the lengthy, and sometimes heated, teacher contract negotiations.
   The school board and the South Brunswick Education Association reached a tentative agreement Nov. 19 on a new pact after 10 months at the bargaining table. The SBEA is expected to vote Dec. 16 on the tentative agreement.
   "It showed the character of these individuals. Even if we settled right away, if I did the responsible thing and examined things before today, I would have voted no," he said. "There are just things on referendums that haven’t been changed — like multipurpose rooms, gyms, HVAC upgrades for years. It’s this district’s nature to fix a problem and then come back."
   One woman said she voted against the plan because housing developers building homes in areas of the township that were once undeveloped should take on some of the financial burden related to building new schools.
   Voting at the South Brunswick Community Center, James McCarthy said he did not favor the plan because of the future funds that would be needed as a result of the plan, including money needed to hire new teachers. He said the district was telling the truth to voters about the project’s true price tag.
   "Building the buildings will cost $46 million, but how many more teachers will this involve ?" he said.
   One Brunswick Acres voter said she supported the expansion and upgrade plan because children need proper space to learn.
   Walking out of Indian Fields in search of the right polling place, Sheryl Klayman said that once she made her way to Crossroads South Middle School, she planned to hit the yes button in the booth.
   "Because we need to invest money into the school system. We’re all a community and the district has helped my kids. I have a high school senior and a middle schooler. They’ve benefited from the excellent school system," Ms. Klayman said.